Following a storm of reaction and frustration with the Vancouver Park Board concerning the reservation system at Kits Pool, the saga is on hold for now.
Last night, a Vancouver Park Board motion was to be discussed that could’ve effectively ended the Kits Pool reservation system as we know it — a system introduced during the pandemic.
However, Marie-Claire Howard’s motion was deemed not to be an “urgent” matter by Park Board Chair Laura Christensen, meaning it will not be discussed again until September, after the pool is closed for the season.
It was declared not urgent, despite Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim calling on the Vancouver Park Board to eliminate the reservation system before last night’s meeting.
Ultimately, barring a swimming miracle, the individuals who supported the call to end the reservation system will not get their way for the remainder of the season, and if they want to swim, they’ll have to either reserve a spot or wait in line.
The decision has sparked a wave of reaction from a community of individuals who have been highly engaged with the matter since its inception. The whole issue with the reservation system may not have even been thrust into the spotlight without local media personality Jody Vance. And after the decision, Vance had some harsh words for the Vancouver Park Board, calling the board a dinosaur.
“Park Board is a dinosaur that is ruining Vancouver with bureaucracy,” she said on X, tagging B.C. Premier David Eby in her post.
That post alone sparked numerous reactions, including some questioning why the Park Board still exists.
Didn’t Sim promise to eliminate the park board? I said this to you the other day. Different circus, same monkeys. Vancouver is a joke city.
— Chris Narduzzi 🐶 (@ChrisNarduzzi) July 22, 2025
George Affleck, a former councillor, also weighed in and tagged Eby about the future of the Park Board.
“Please make a decision about Vancouver Park Board’s future so we can move forward with either replacing the current board in the 2026 election or, if you so decide, not have them at all as per Ken Sim’s request. We need some certainty. It’s in your hands,” Affleck wrote.
David Pasin, a Park Board supporter, responded to Affleck, “George, because you disagree with the Park Board ruling doesn’t mean it should be disbanded. This council has done its best to emasculate the [park] board as it is.”
Others called out Christensen for her part in all of this.
Brutal, but it is what we expected as @l_christe as much as said she would do exactly what she did. It’s playing politics and I suspect Sim’s letter may have made her dig her heals in even further.
— Dave 🫤🤔😬 also now @vanpolimorphus.bsky.social (@VanPoliMorphus) July 22, 2025
Christensen also posted on X in an unrelated matter concerning Trout Lake, and even in that post, people are responding with their thoughts about Kits Pool.
Truly disappointed to see you ignoring the voices of the people who elected to to speak on their behalf.
We’ll remember this. #freekitspool
— Kate (@CrashKate) July 22, 2025
Christensen shared one additional piece of information today on X in response to Vance’s post, including a video link from the meeting featuring her reasoning on why she came to her decision after she received about 50 emails on both sides of the debate.
I received about 50 e-mails total on the Kits reservation system issue. There were e-mails both for and against the reservation system.
I explained my reasoning last night (easier to link than fit into 280 characters): https://t.co/hjUURCoTvO
— Laura Christensen (@l_christe) July 22, 2025
The Vancouver mayor also reacted to the ruling.
“Last night, the Park Board chose delay over action, and Vancouver residents are the ones paying the price,” Sim said in a statement.
“Despite overwhelming public feedback calling for the immediate removal of the outdated Kits Pool advance booking system, the motion to scrap it was delayed until September 15th, well after the pool closes for the summer. That’s not accountability, that’s deliberate inaction,” he added.
Sim also had a message for Eby’s lack of progress on abolishing the Park Board.
“His inaction will continue to cost Vancouver taxpayers tens of millions of dollars and will result in disappointments like Kits Pool.”
Where do you stand on the Kits Pool booking system drama now that it probably won’t be considered seriously by the Vancouver Park Board until September?